Evidence supporting the use of: Coca
For the body system: Nerves
Synopsis
Source of validity: Traditional
Rating (out of 5): 3
Coca (Erythroxylum coca) leaves have a long history of traditional use among Indigenous peoples in the Andes for supporting stamina, alleviating fatigue, and improving mental alertness—effects often associated with the nervous system. The leaves are typically chewed or brewed as tea, and their mild stimulant effects are attributed to alkaloids, primarily cocaine, though in much lower concentrations than found in illicitly processed cocaine. Historical records dating back centuries document the use of coca leaves to combat altitude sickness, hunger, and exhaustion, all of which can be related to nervous system function. However, while coca leaves have clear psychoactive effects and can temporarily enhance alertness and reduce fatigue, there is limited modern scientific research specifically validating their use for supporting the nervous system in a therapeutic or health-promoting context. Most available research focuses on the pharmacology of cocaine itself rather than the traditional use of whole coca leaves. Nonetheless, the widespread and longstanding traditional use in Andean cultures for nervous system-related effects is well-documented in anthropological and ethnobotanical literature, justifying a moderate evidence rating from a traditional perspective.
Other ingredients that support Nerves
1,3,7-Trimethylpurine-2,6-dione5-Hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP)
7,8-Dihydroxyflavone
Acetyl L-carnitine
Acetyl-L-Tyrosine
Acetylcholine
Aconite
Agarwood
Agmatine
Albizia
Alfalfa
algal oil
Almond fruit
Alpha glyceryl
alpha-linolenic acid (ALA)
alpha-lipoic acid
amino acids
anchovies
Anemone
Angelica
animal protein
Anserina
antler
apigenin
arachidonic acid
Aralia
ashitaba
ashwagandha
asiaticoside
avens
avocado
baccosides
Bacopa
Bacopin
bacoside
baicalein
baicalin
Baikal Skullcap
banana
basil
bee products
bee venom
beef
Beef liver
benfotiamine
beta caryophyllene
betel
betony
bilobalide
biopterin
black cohosh
black galingale
black ginger
black gram
Black Hellebore
Black willow
bleeding heart
borneol
bovine liver
brahmi
Brazil nut
broad bean
broccoli
bugbane
bасора
caffeine
calamari oil
calamus
calcium
Calea zacatechichi
California poppy
camphor oil
canadine
cannabichromene
cannabidiol
cannabigerol
Cannabis sativa oil
Canscora
Capitate Valerian
capsaicin
caryophyllene
catalpol
catecholamine
catnip
catuaba
Celastrus
Centella asiatica
Centella triterpenes
centrophenoxine
chamomile
Chinese mountain ant
chloride
chocolate
choline
chuchuhuasi
citicoline
Clary sage
Clerodendrum trichotomum
coca
cocarboxylase
cocoa
coconut
cod liver oil
coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10)
cola nut
Convolvulus pluricaulis
Convolvulus prostratus
copper
cordyceps
Corydalis
cowage seed
cowslip
cramp bark
Curcuma
Curcuminoid
Cymbidium goeringii
cytidine
d-alpha tocopherol
D-phenylalanine
damiana
date
deanol
deer velvet
Dendrobium
DHA (docosahexaenoic acid)
Dicentra formosa
dihydrolipoic acid
diterpenes
DMPX
docosahexaenoic Acid
dopamine
DPA (docosapentaenoic acid)
dwarf morning glory
egg
electrolytes blend (proprietary)
eleuthero
ergothioneine
Erythrina
essential oil blend
eucommia
fatty acids
feverfew
fibroblast growth factor
fish
fish oil
fish protein
flavin mononucleotide
flavones
flavonols
fo-ti
folate
folic acid
fungus
GABA (gamma aminobutyric acid)
galantamine
gamma linolenic acid (GLA)
gastrodia
gastrodin
Gelsemium
ginger
ginkgo biloba
ginkgo flavone glycoside
ginkgoheteroside
ginkgolides
Ginkgoside
ginseng
Ginsenosides
glucose
Glutamic acid
glycerophosphocholine (GPC)
Glycine
Glycolipids
gotu kola
Griffonia simplicifolia
guarana
Guaranine
guayusa
guelder rose
hazelnut
heal-all
Hedychium spicatum
Hellebore
hemp
hemp oil
herbal blend (proprietary)
Hericenones
hericium mushroom
Honokiol
hops
huperzine A
hyperforin
Hypericin
Hypericum
Idebenone
Ignatius bean
Indian coraltree
Indian nightshade
Indian pipe
inositol
iron
isobutylamides
jasmine
Jatamansi
jujube
jujubosides
kanna
kava
kavalactones
kola nut
kudzu
l-5-methyltetrahydrofolate glucosamine salt (5-MTHF)
l-carnitine
L-glycine
L-phenylalanine
L-serine
L-taurine
L-theanine
L-tryptophan
l-tyrosine
lactium casein decapeptide
Lactucarium
Large-leaved linden
Lavandin
lavender
lecithin
Legume protein
lemon balm
Ligusticum
ligustilides
linalool
linden
lingzhi
lion's mane
lipids
lobelia
longan
lotus
lupulinum
magnesium
magnolia
magnolol
mandrake
manganese
maral root
Marine fat
Marine lipid
Marjoram
Marking Nut Tree
Matcha
Mate
Melatonin
Menthol oil
Mesembrine
Methylcobalamin
Methylxanthine
Milk
Mimosa
Mimulus
Mineral ascorbate
Mineral blend
Mint
Monoterpenes
Morinda
Motherwort
Mugwort
Muira puama
Mulungu
Mushroom
Myrcene
N-acetyl leucine
NADH
Nardostachys
Nervonic acid
Niacin (vitamin B3)
Niacinamide (vitamin B3)
nicotinamide riboside
Nigella seed
noni
Nutmeg
oat
olive
omega-3 fatty acids
oriental arborvitae
Osthole
paeoniflorin
Palmitoylethanolamide (PEA)
pantothenic acid (vitamin B5)
passionflower
Pea
peony
Peppermint
Phenylpropanoids
phosphatidylcholine
Phosphatidylethanolamine
phosphatidylserine
phospholipids
phosphorus
phytocannabinoids
Plankton
Polygala
polygala root
Polygonatum
polyphenols
polyunsaturated fat
poppy
Portulaca
potassium
prepared aconite tuber
prickly ash
Propionyl-L-Carnitine
protein
Puerain
Puerarin
Pulsatilla
Purple Monkeyflower
purslane
pyridoxal-5-phosphate (P-5-P)
pyrroloquinoline disodium salt
pyrroloquinoline quinone
Rauvolfia
reishi mushroom
relora® (proprietary)
Rhodiola
robusta coffee
Rosarin
rosavins
rose
rose oil
rosemary
royal jelly
Rubiaceae
rue
Safed musli
saffron
Safranal
sage
Salidroside
Salmon Oil
salt
SAMe (S-adenosyl-L-methionine disulfate p-toluensulfate)
sceletium
Schisandrins
Schizandrol A
Schizochytrium
Schizochytrium Oil
Sedanenolide
Sensitive Plant
sesame
Shankhpushpi
Shilajit
Sichuan Lovage
Sichuan pepper
Sida cordifolia
silk tree
skullcap
Snakeroot
Solanaceae
Southern Tsangshu
spearmint leaf
specialized pro-resolving mediators (SPMs)
Sphaeranthus indicus
Sphingomyelin
Spikenard
spinach
St. John's Wort
Stephania root
Sulbutiamine
Sulforaphane
suma
Sumbul
sweet flag
Sweet Woodruff
Tagara
Taurine
terpene lactones
Terpenoids
Tetrahydropalmatine
Teucrium marum
Thiamin (vitamin B1)
Toothache Plant
trace minerals
Trichilia catigua
Trichopus zeylanicus
Troxerutin
Tumerone
turmeric
Uridine
Valerenic acid
Valerian root
vegetable blend (proprietary)
Vegetable Protein
velvet bean
Verbena
Vervain
Vetiver
Viburnum
Vincamine
Vinpocetine
vitamin B
vitamin B12
vitamin B6
vitamin D
vitamin E
Vitexin
Walnut
Waterhyssop
wheat germ
Wild yam
Withanolides
Wogonin
Wood betony
Xylaria nigripes
Yarrow
Yeast
Yerba mate
Ylang ylang
Yohimbe
Yohimbine
zanthoxylum
Zinc
β-nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN)